Review of Pharmacy Remuneration and Regulation
Message from the Chair
March 2016
Welcome to the first update from the Panel of the Review of Pharmacy Remuneration and Regulation.
This Review reflects a commitment made by the Australian Government and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, as part of the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement, to conduct a Review of Pharmacy Remuneration and Regulation. This is the first independent, comprehensive review of community pharmacy in close to 20 years and comes at an important time for both consumers and the industry given the challenges and opportunities within the sector.
In March 2017, the Panel will provide the Government with recommendations on future remuneration, regulation (including Pharmacy Location Rules), and other arrangements that apply to pharmacy and wholesalers for the dispensing and supply of medicines and other services, provided under the PBS. Our primary focus is to ensure that consumers have reliable and affordable access to medicines.
Following the Minister’s announcement of the membership of the Review Panel in late November 2015 – consisting of Ms Jo Watson, Mr Bill Scott and myself as Chair, we have commenced an initial round of consultations with consumer, pharmacy, wholesaler, hospital and health practitioner groups. The Panel has had over 50 face-to-face meetings with key industry and consumer stakeholders, held in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. We have also had the opportunity to personally visit a number of community pharmacies, as well as a wholesaler distribution centre and a hospital clinical pharmacy. I extend my thanks to all those who have made the time to talk to us and help us understand their industry.
This month the Panel attended the Pharmacy Guild’s 2016 Australian Pharmacy Professional conference (APP2016) at the Gold Coast, where I offered a short presentation and took some questions from the audience. The conference was a great opportunity for the Panel to engage directly with pharmacists and industry groups to obtain their perspectives on the future of community pharmacy.
These conversations have been valuable for the Panel in developing our understanding of the issues relevant to community pharmacy and will inform the Discussion Paper that will be released in late April 2016, along with an invitation for formal submissions from interested parties and individuals.
We are also working closely with the Department’s Review Secretariat to develop a National Consultation Process which will follow the release of the Discussion Paper and provide an opportunity for individuals and organisations to engage with the Panel as we visit capital cities and regional areas of Australia, as well as through online and social media channels. Please check the Review website regularly for updates on the Consultation Process.
We know from our consultations to date that there are a diverse range of views regarding community pharmacy in Australia. Many individuals and organisations have great ideas for what we could do better now, and what is needed for the future. The Panel is committed to consulting extensively during the Review to explore these views and the factors contributing to patient health outcomes and the quality use of medicines. On behalf of the Panel, I encourage you to share your opinions and engage with the Review during the National Consultation Process and following the release of the Interim Report in the second half of 2016. For more information on how you can contribute to the Review, please contact the Review Secretariat.
Kind regards,
Professor Stephen King
Chair